Mustard
Gloom that descends out of nowhere and lifts just as suddenly
What it feels like
Nothing has happened. That is the strange part. You woke up fine, the week is going well, and by ten o'clock a heavy gray feeling has settled over everything for no reason you can find. You go looking for a cause and there is not one, which somehow makes it worse, because you cannot even justify it to yourself. It arrives without warning and can lift the same way, sometimes within a day, leaving you slightly bewildered by the whole thing. People often describe it as a cloud coming down, and they usually say sorry for it, as if a mood needs a permit.
Signs you might need it
- Low mood arrives with no cause you can identify
- It comes down suddenly, like a cloud
- It can lift as suddenly as it came
- You feel guilty for being low when nothing is wrong
- Cheering up does not touch it
- Life is going fine and you still feel gray
What it helps with
The cloud thins and the light comes back. Traditionally it is described as a return of ordinary cheerfulness, without you having had to work out where the gloom came from.
Not to be confused with
Gentian, which always has a cause you can name. If you can point at the thing that flattened you, it is not Mustard. Wild Rose is flatter and longer lasting, and Sweet Chestnut is far more anguished.
Those who are liable to times of gloom, or even despair, as though a cold dark cloud overshadowed them and hid the light and the joy of life. It may not be possible to give any reason or explanation for such attacks.
The plant
Wild mustard, or charlock, the bright yellow weed that can turn an arable field yellow overnight when conditions suit it. Its seed can lie dormant in soil for decades and then come up all at once, which fits a remedy about moods that arrive without notice.
How to take it
The usual way is two drops from the stock bottle into a small glass of water, sipped through the day. If you are mixing several remedies, put two drops of each into a 30ml bottle of spring water and take four drops from that, four times a day.
There is no need to time it around meals, and you can take it as often as you like. Most people give it two weeks before deciding whether it is doing anything. The full guide to taking them covers mixing bottles, timing and the alcohol question.
Often mixed up with Mustard
Often taken alongside
Blends that include Mustard
Combinations mixed for a situation rather than for a person. Each one is shown with the reason Mustard is in it.
Common questions
These are about Mustard. The questions about the remedies in general, alcohol, children, timing, live in the FAQ.
How do I know if I need Mustard rather than Gentian?
Ask yourself whether you can name a cause. Gentian always has one, a specific setback. Mustard has none at all, and that lack of a reason is the whole picture.
Is Mustard for depression?
It is the traditional choice for gloom that arrives without a cause you can name, and that missing reason is the whole picture. Take it for as long as it is useful to you. If the cloud keeps coming back, it is worth talking it over with someone you trust.
Can I take Mustard for seasonal low mood?
People often do, particularly through the darker months. It sits well alongside the simple things that help at that time of year, like getting outside while the light lasts.
Not sure Mustard is the one?
Choosing works by recognizing yourself in a description, so if this one only half fits, it is worth seeing what else comes up. The quiz narrows all 38 in about a minute, and the not fully here group holds the nearest neighbors.
Where to buy Mustard
Bach remedies are widely stocked. If you are buying online, check the bottle says Mustard and comes in the standard 20ml stock size.
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